1. Introduction:
‘A Case of Exploding Mangoes’ is a fiction, considered as a master piece of Hanif Mohammed. The book was highly praised by a few national and foreign scholars. Across the border, a few Indian intellectuals and paper media also lime light the book, “At last we have a Pakistani writer who faces up to his political ancestry with explosive brio”. Kamila Shamsie says about the novel, “One of the most exciting novels I have read in a long time” (Hanif, 20 May 2008).
The novel leads its audience to the probe into the crash of Hercules C130, the world’s sturdiest plane, carrying Pakistan’s military dictator General Zia-ul-Haq. Behind the fall of plane, it was a mechanical failure, human error, the CIA’s impatience, a blind woman’s curse or could it be your narrator, Ali Shigri (House, A Case of Exploding Mangoes)?
‘A Case of Exploding Mangoes’ is a comic satire. It is a fiction, having thirty seven chapters and three hundred sixty four pages. The Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) of book reflects, the author has a biased against Pakistan Military, and General Zia-ul-Haq. To unfold the truth, chapter no two of the novel is chosen. The chapter has sixteen pages, starts from page no 30 to page no 45.
2. Norman Fairclough’s Framework of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA)
2.1. Introduction
Norman Fairclough is the eminent professor if Linguistics at Lancaster University. He is known as, one of the founder of Critical Discourse analysis. Fairclough’s model for CDA consists of three inter related process. “My three dimensional approach enable relationship between discursive and social change to be assessed, and detailed properties of texts to be related systematically to social properties of discursive events as instances of social practice”. (Fairclough, 1992)
“ Following are the three dimensions:
· The object of analysis (including verbal, visual or verbal and visual texts).
· The processes by means of which the object is produced and received (writing/
speaking/designing and reading/listening/viewing) by human subjects.
· The socio-historical conditions which govern these processes.
According to Fairclough each of these dimensions requires a different kind of analysis
text analysis (description), processing analysis (interpretation), and social analysis (explanation).” (Janks, 1997)
Figure 2.1.1 Three dimensional conception of discourse
2.2.Why Norman Fairclough’s Framework of CDA:
French discourse analysis (e.g. Foucault, 1972; Pecheux, 1975), social semiotics (Hodge& Kress, 1988), sociocognitive studies (Van Dijk, 93) and the discourse historical method (Wodak, 1996, 1999.) all have given different approaches to CDA, but considering the type of genre and text (A Case of Exploding mangoes by Muhammad Hanif) Fairclough’s framework sounds most appropriate approach, the framework covers all the multidimensional, multifunctional and critical aspects of social discourse. Moreover, it subsumes a variety of approaches like Sinclair and Coulthard, Conversation Analysis, Labov and Fanshel, Potter and WethereU, and Pechueux etc. (Fairclough, Approaches to Discourse Analysis, 1992)
“What is useful about this approach is that it enables you to focus on the signifiers that make up the text, the specific linguistic selections, their juxtapositioning, their sequencing, their
layout and so on.” (Janks, 1997)
3. Selection of Text
‘A Case of Exploding Mangoes’ has been chosen for Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA). In nature, the book is a fiction, written by Mohammad Hanif. Before stretching the discussion on the selection of the text, let’s have a look on some aspects of the life of the author of the novel. The biography could play a significant role in developing the understanding of the discourse.
.1. Biography of the author:
‘Mohammed Hanif was born in Okara, Pakistan. He graduated from the Pakistan Air Force Academy as Pilot Officer but subsequently left to pursue a career in journalism. He has written for stage, film and BBC Radio.
His first novel, A Case of Exploding Mangoes, was long-listed for the Man Booker Prize, short-listed for The Guardian First Book Award and won the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for Best First Novel. He was the head of the BBC Urdu Service in London and now works as their special correspondent based in Karachi.’ (House, Mohammed Hanif, 2014)
.2. A Case of Exploding Mangoes
‘A Case of Exploding Mangoes’ is the eminent novel of Mohammed Hanif, published in 2008, by Random House Publishers India Private Limited. The fiction tells the story of the investigation of the assassination of the president of Pakistan General Zia ul Haq. It is the probe of the crash of Hercules C130 sturdiest plane. Behind the fall of plane, it was a mechanical failure, human error, the CIA’s impatience, a blind woman’s curse or could it be your narrator, Ali Shigri (House, A Case of Exploding Mangoes)?
.3. Extract of the text
The fiction is a comic satire, having thirty seven chapters and three hundred sixty four pages. Chapter no two of the novel is opted for Critical Discourse Analysis. The chapter has more than fifty passages. Mr. Mohammad Hanif opens this lesson with the line ”Before Morning Prayers on 15 June 1988, General Mohammad Zia-ul-Haq’s index finger hesitated on the verse 21:187…” (Hanif M. , 2008). In this chapter of the book, the author has used intersexuality, metaphors, wording, repetition and at some places vulgar language which reflect the author’s biased against the president and the military of Pakistan. The text unfolds the facts that the General Zia-ul-Haq inclination to the religion Islam, is not indeed actual love of the religion, but to get fame and some personal interests. Moreover, General Akhtar is the only person, painted loyal to the dictator, while other officers unwillingly follow the commands of their chief.
Textual analysis
• Grammar tools such as:
The use of active and passive voice
The choices of mood
Patterns of transitivity
The thematic structure
The choices of modality or polarity
The cohesive devices
The information focus
• Lexicalisation
• Argumentation theory and rhetoric
• Metaphor
According to Fairclough, discursive practice has two facets: institutional process (e.g. editorial procedures), and discourse processes (changes the text go through in production and consumption). (Fairclough, Critical Discourse Analysis: The Critical Study of, 1995)
For Fairclough, "discourse practice straddles the division between society and culture on the one hand, and discourse, language and text on the other" (p. 60).
“Discursive practice, involves process of text production, distribution and consumption and the nature of these processes varies between different types of discourse according to social factors”, Fairclough says. (Fairclough, Discursive Practice, 1992) In the next page of the same book Fairclough states, “ Text produced by political leaders, or text within International arms negotiations, are distributed across a range of different institutional domains, each of which has its own patterns of consumption, and its own routines for reproducing and transforming texts” (Fairclough, Discursive Practice, 1992)
Analysis of discursive practice of Mohammad Hanif ’s fiction “A Case of Exploding mangoes”, intertexuality as a tool of the chapter two, and interview of Mohammad Hanif( the author) with Anna Horsbrugh-Porter, are considered to unfold the multiple interpretations of the discourse. The transcription of interview is given below in the appendix.
Intertextuality
The salience of the concept of intertextuality in the frame work I am developing accords with my focus upon discourse in social change. Kristeva observes that intertextuality implies ‘the insertion of history (society) into a text and of this text into history’. By ‘the insertion of history’ into a text she means that the text absorbs and is built out of texts from the past.
(Fairclough, Intertextuality, 1992)
The author Mohammad Hanif uses intertextuality on multiple places in the fiction, particularly the main idea of chapter no two, where the author is struggling hard to prove the General Zia is guilty, magnified through one verse of The Quran, in 21:87 it is said,
“And (mention) Dhu'n-Nun, when he went off in anger and deemed that We had no power over him, but he cried out in the darkness, saying: There is no Allah save Thee. Be Thou Glorified! Lo! I have been a wrong-doer.” (Surat Al-Anbya) Translation of Pikthal
“BEFORE MORNING PRAYERS ON 15 June 1988, General Mohammed Zia ul-Haq’s index finger hesitated on verse 21:87 while reading the Quran, and spent the rest of his short life dreaming about the innards of a whale.” (Hanif M. , Two, 2008) page: 30
The opening of the chapter reveals that the index finger of general Mohammad Zia-ul-Haq is hesitated on verse 21:87. The line of the text depicts the escapism of the character General Zia-ul-Haq. On the part of the author, presupposition can be seen vividly. It is very early that in the book of thirty seven chapters the author is unfolding the aspect that the character is scared to recite the verse, which leads its audience to the feeling of repent.
When General Zia’s finger reached the words I was indeed wrong, it stopped. He reached the line with his finger, going over the same word again and again with the hope of teasing out its true implication. This was not what he remembered from his earlier reading of the verse
Which should translate as: And I am one of those who oppressed their own souls. Page: 30
This part of the text illuminates writer’s trend to prove the general wrong and he states in the text ,”… I was indeed wrong…, which should translate as: And I am one of those who oppressed their own souls”
Following are the other evidences, explains the biased of the author:
· “I was wrong. The General knew the story of Jonnah Well. The fact that Jonah was Zun-nus here did not confuse hi. He knew Jonah and Zun-nus were one and the same, a frustrated prophet who walked out on his clan, ended up in a whale’s belly, then chanted this verse over and over again.” Page 31
· “His index finger still going back and forth over the troublesome verse.” Page 31
· “And General Zia had replied with humour characteristics of their relationship, ‘And if wishes were Aladdin’s carpets, sinner like me would always be flying to Mecca’” page 31
· Going back and forth over the troublesome verse. The prayer mat was a four feet by two antique carpet from Bukhara, embellished with gold threads, and adorned, on the right-hand corner, with a solid gold compass which permanently pointed towards Khana Kaaba in Mecca. Page 31
· Then two years later between fending off world leaders’ pleas to not to hang Bhutto and signing his death warrant, Zia had opened up the holy book and found this: ‘and the guilty behold the fire and know that they are about to fall therein, and they find no way of escape thence’. Page 34
· Christians calls Jesus the son of God. Are we to understand that some god came down while Mary was fast asleep… page 41
Description of Jonnah, troublesome verses, Aladdin’s carpet, Khanna Kaaba in Mecca, and Jesus son of God all are reflecting intertextuality.
Process of Text Production:
The only authentic source, which tells us something about the production of the fiction, is the interview of Mohammad Hanif with Anna Horsbrugh-Porter.
Mohammad Hanif: I think most of it is invented in fact all of it is invented. I’ve just taken some names and some events I think that basic truth in the book is the probably the only truth in the book is there was a plane took off in August 17, 1988 and it came tumbling down after about 5 minutes it took off. So that is the basic fact that is the only truth that is there. There was a plane that came down and there is plane that comes down in my book is well. But rest of it I have all invented the general zia that you will meet in the book is not real general zia.
(online T. i., A Case of Exploding Mangoes)
The Author says, all the characters of the novel are fictitious, but the selection of the characters are deliberate, though names of some of the character are changed Zia, Zainab, and William Cacy all are actual characters. Zainab is actually Safia bibi, who was 13 years old blind girl. Zainab will be discussed in detail in the next part of this article ‘Analysis of the social change’ micro level the fiction is a satire on the social taboo’s but on the macro level it portrays the negative image of Pakistan in the West. After the death of Zia-ul-Haq, Hanif found appropriate time to write the fiction.
Mohammad Hanif: And Pakistan is always been in this great tradition that whenever we have dictatorship, as a first thing dictators do they impose complete censorship in newspapers TV and all kind of media so the only way people have dealing these things about making up jokes about so I grew up during zia’s time so I remember every couple of week there will be new jokes about him , his mustache about his policies about kind of people he is surrounded with and these jokes were really really travel this is before the text messaging and e-mails and now I realized that probably I must have been influenced by that tradition by that time.
(Online T. i., A Case of Exploding Mangoes)
Mohammad Hanif is right, the dictators do not allow criticism, comedy or comic satire is the best way to criticize someone. “I did not definitely set out to write it this way I have a sort of vague story in my head and I had a voice in my head”, Mohammad Hanif. I did not find any publisher in Pakistan, though the book is there in book shops and people appreciate the work. The novel has not faced any criticism from Pakistan, while some readers from outside criticized some of the areas of the novel.
Process of distribution and consumption
The style, syntax, selection of words, metaphors, symbols and other literary devices are interwoven in an awesome way, the book is enjoyed inside and outside by many fiction lovers. Especially, the piece of writing was highly appreciated in India, the title and subject of the novel reflects Indian and western interest. Though the work is a satire on a dictator and unfolds countless social black spots of Pakistan military, politicians and agencies yet, it speaks the language of west, and criticizes the countries fundamental approach towards the religion and established pillars of the nation. The book is available all over the world, winner of the Shakti Bhatt first book prize.
Analysis of Social Practice
The Case of Safia Bibi
Before stepping into the discussion and stretching the discourse, few facts discussed in the novel should be investigated. Mohammad Hanif, pens down various possible reasons, behind the assassination of the General Zia ul Haq, and draws one fictitious character of Zainab (blind girl). Actually Safia Bibi is portrayed as Zainab, the author blaims General Zia for the conviction of the girl
“Safia Bibi was a 13-year-old blind girl who was raped by her employer and his son. She didn’t report the crime. Because she showed clear signs of pregnancy and was unmarried, it was assumed she had premarital sex. Her failure to prove that she was raped prompted the judge to sentence her (under the Hudood ordinance) to three years of imprisonment and 15 lashes. The ruling cast her as the perpetrator instead of the victim. Her rapists were never prosecuted and did not spend any time in jail.” (Council)
The detail of this case is given in the appendix. Zia only established Islamic law, he did not take any decision, while the decision was wrong and not according to Islamic law. It was the misunderstanding of case by the judiciary. Hanif blames Zia for all this, actually in fact he is criticizing the Islamic constitution without understanding the point of mistake.
The Publisher of the books, awards and interviews
The novel is published by Random House India, winner of the Shakti Bhatt first book prize, shortlisted for the guardian First Book Award and Longlisted for the Booker Prize. Following are some of the comments of different intellectuals:
· ‘One of the most exciting novel I ‘ve read in a long time’ Kamila Samsie
· ‘For once the hyperboleof blurb reaches appropriate justification in the excellence of this debut thriller’ Hindustan Times
· ‘At least we have a Pakistani writer who faces up to his political ancestry with explosive brio’ India Today
Mohammad Hanif was born in Okara, Pakistan. He graduated from Pakistan Air Force Academy as a pilot officer but subsequently left to pursue a career in journalism. He has worked for Newsline, India Today, and The Washington Post, and has written plays for the stage as well as the screen play of critically acclaimed BBC drama What Now, Now That We Are Dead? His feature film The Long Night has been shown at film festivals around the world and he is graduate of University of East Anglia’s creative writing programme. Currently he heads BBC’s Urdu Service, and he lives in London
(Hanif M. , A Note on The Author, 2008)
The above mentioned details of the awards, quotations, and the jobs in India Today spots light the interest of writing. All the news papers of the world, have different policies and scope of work. One cannot neglect the influence of the organizations on the employees. The information is self explanatory indicates the possible bias of the writer.
Freedom of Speech and Western Interest
History is of the evidence that writers like Salman Rushdie, Ibnul Warq, Arundhati Roy and Mohammad Hanif, whenever write books like The Satanic Verses, The Origions of Koran, The God of Small Things, highly praised and appreciated Internationally, especially by the west. International Media always remain in hunt of Malala like subjects, who spotlight some social taboos of a micro part of the society and then magnify the issues on macro level. Those who live in Lahore and in Islamabad with their families know well about the law and order situation, but media always illuminates the emergency like condition in the country. These circumstances could be fatal for the stability and for the economical growth of any nation. Zia was a dictator, and some of his policies were very controversial, but on the same time he was the hero of millions of people. In many ways he did his job in the national interest, similarly Pakistan Military is considered vital for the existence of the country.
‘A Case of Exploding Mangoes’ is no doubt very well written fiction, but in a broader spectrum it servers the interest of anti Pakistani factors.
Conclusion
Text Analysis, Analysis of the discursive practive andsocil practice, all the layers of fairclough defines the biased approach of the writer. The work of Mohammad Hanif is awesome but it speaks the language of West and rivals of Pakistan and Islam. The structure and syntax of the text on one side the evils of the society, on the other hand, it portrays a bleak picture of Pakistan and Islam.
References
Council, M. P. (n.d.). The Case of Pakistan's Safia Bibi. Retrieved May 2014, 2014, from http://www.altmuslimah.com: http://www.altmuslimah.com/b/spa/3448
Fairclough, N. (1992). Approaches to Discourse Analysis. In N. Fairclough, Discourse and Social Change (p. 259). Polity Press.
Fairclough, N. (1995). Critical Discourse Analysis: The Critical Study of. In N. Fairclough, Critical Discourse Analysis: The Critical Study of (p. 279). London: Longman.
Fairclough, N. (1992). Discourse and social change. Malden USA: Polity Press.
Fairclough, N. (1992). Discursive Practice. In N. Fairclough, Discourse and Social Change. Polity press.
Fairclough, N. (1992). Intertextuality. In N. Fairclough, Discourse and Social Change (p. 247). London : Polity press.
Hanif, M. (20 May 2008). A Case of Expolding Mangoes. Random House Publishers.
Hanif, M. (2008). A Note on The Author. In A Case of Exploding Mangoes (p. 364). Random House Publisher.
Hanif, M. (2008). Chapter 2. In M. Hanif, A Case of Exploding Mangoes. Random House Publisher India Private Limited.
Hanif, M. (2008). Two. In M. Hanif, A Case of Exploding Mangoes (p. 364). Random Hose India.
House, R. (n.d.). A Case of Exploding Mangoes. Retrieved May 5, 2014, from http://www.randomhouse.ca: http://www.randomhouse.ca/books/74756/a-case-of-exploding-mangoes-by-mohammed-hanif
House, R. (2014, May 05). Mohammed Hanif. Retrieved May 5, 2014, from randomhouse.ca: http://www.randomhouse.ca/authors/78707/mohammed-hanif
Janks, H. (1997). Critical Discourse Analysis as a Research Tool. Discourse: studies in the cultural politics of education , 14.
online, T. i. (Composer). A Case of Exploding Mangoes. [M. Hanif, Performer, & A. Horsburgh-porter, Conductor]
Online, T. i. (Composer). A Case of Exploding Mangoes. [M. Hanif, Performer, & A. Horsburgh, Conductor]
Surat Al-Anbya. (n.d.). Retrieved May 23, 2014, from www.Quran.com: http://quran.com/21/87
